tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112723102018-08-12T04:35:19.372-04:00sostinkinhappyFor my family who are my friends and my friends who are like family.
Most importantly, for my husband, where ever life may find you.sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-52654541932601333162012-05-28T08:17:00.000-04:002012-08-01T18:42:55.089-04:00Memorial Day ~ Blessed is Their MemoryDear Mr. Amazing Man -<br /><br />I do not often allow myself to look squarely in the eyes of what it means to be married to this lifestyle we have chosen together. However, today is one of them.<br /><br />I sit here at my desk, in my air conditioned home, listening to the morning song of birds as their lyrical melodies filter across the pool. Later, our children will wake up. I will have to choose what to feed them for breakfast - eggs, yogurt, or hot cereal? Bananas or grapes? Then we will prepare for our afternoon party with friends from church.<br /><br />I am well aware so few mothers in the history of the world have been fortunate enough to enjoy this level of security and peace, and yet here I sit, one of them.&nbsp; <br /><br />The intellectual and physical freedoms I enjoy this very moment were purchased by the sacrifice of men, such as yourself, throughout the generations of this country. As it is every day when you are gone, I am ever mindful of your sacrifice and your willingness to do the right thing, even when it is hard. I am mindful of the patriot's blood coursing through our children's veins, the blood of men who fought in the earliest struggles for our beloved country's freedom and independence.&nbsp; <i>I am mindful and I am grateful</i>, grateful there are individuals such as yourself who have stood ready throughout the course of this great nation's history to defend and protect these same freedoms.&nbsp; I am ever mindful of the ultimate and eternal sacrifice of families such the Stacey and the Zembiec families. <i>I am mindful and I am grateful </i>for those who have laid down their lives in the exertion to secure these freedoms for others.<br /><br />Today, I honor them.<br /><br />Today, as I go about my activities in this beautiful land, I will do so in honor of men like Doug. I will laugh with my children because they cannot laugh with theirs, I will spend time with family and friends because they cannot spend time with theirs. I will plan and dream for the future because they cannot plan for theirs.&nbsp; I will teach our children, "He that is a soldier in defense of such a cause, needs no title; his post is a post of honor, and although not an emperor, yet he shall wear a crown--of glory--and blessed will be his memory!"<br /><br />And blessed <i>is</i> their memory.<br /><br />Much love and belief in the amazing man you are - <br /><br />M.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QoYFJykMqpg/T8Nh5YQ2qHI/AAAAAAAABcE/wFWezps8QL0/s1600/SgtWilliamStacey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QoYFJykMqpg/T8Nh5YQ2qHI/AAAAAAAABcE/wFWezps8QL0/s400/SgtWilliamStacey2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Marine Sgt. William Stacey</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody></tbody></table><blockquote><b>"Your exertions in the cause of freedom, guided by wisdom and animated by zeal and courage, have gained you the love and confidence of your grateful countrymen; as they look to you, who are experienced veterans, and trust that you will still be the guardians of America. As I have the honor to be an American, and one among the free millions, who are defended by your valor, I would pay the tribute of thanks, and express my gratitude...</b></blockquote><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NhssUGSg89U/T8Nh42jsLpI/AAAAAAAABb8/NbTG1wkf9YA/s1600/800px-Zembiec-fallujah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NhssUGSg89U/T8Nh42jsLpI/AAAAAAAABb8/NbTG1wkf9YA/s400/800px-Zembiec-fallujah.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Marine Maj. Douglas Alexander Zimbiec, "The Lion of Fallujah"</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote class="tr_bq">&nbsp;<b>"Although your private concerns may call for your assistance at home, yet the voice of your country is still louder...Never was a cause more important or glorious than that which you are engaged in; not only your wives, your children, and distant posterity, but humanity at large, the world of mankind are interested in it; <i>for if tyranny should prevail in this great country, we may expect liberty will expire throughout the world</i>. Therefore, more human glory and happiness may depend on your exertions than ever yet depended upon any of the sons of men. He that is a soldier in defense of such a cause, needs no title; his post is a post of honor, and although not an emperor, yet he shall wear a crown--of glory--and blessed will be his memory!"</b></blockquote><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8EZpXi7tj4/T8NhzNPIi6I/AAAAAAAABb0/S2JBhvYN_jA/s1600/SgtWilliamStacey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8EZpXi7tj4/T8NhzNPIi6I/AAAAAAAABb0/S2JBhvYN_jA/s400/SgtWilliamStacey.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Marine Sgt. William Stacey's body is returned to the U.S. Feb 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><blockquote><b>--A Freeman (as appeared in the <span style="font-style: italic;">New England Chronicle</span>, Nov 1775).</b></blockquote><br /><br />(Stacey, 23, a member of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Battalion, 4<sup>th</sup> Marine Regiment, was killed by a roadside bomb while on a walking patrol in Now Zad, a onetime Taliban stronghold in Helmand province.)<br /><br />(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A._Zembiec">US Marine Maj. Douglas Zembiec</a>, the Lion of Fallujah, was killed in action May 11, 2007 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. )<br /><br />sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-3921931538621204092012-03-14T23:16:00.002-04:002012-03-14T23:16:28.477-04:00I Heart the South<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love living here along the gulf coast, I really do, at least during citrus season.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyw1A03VDXw/T2Fc3-pPaLI/AAAAAAAABCc/pqjoPmgfRRA/s1600/blood-orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyw1A03VDXw/T2Fc3-pPaLI/AAAAAAAABCc/pqjoPmgfRRA/s400/blood-orange.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Feast your eyes on these lovely blood oranges from the co-op this week!!! While I don't particularly care for the name "blood orange" (why can't we call it a sangria orange instead? Same meaning, such&nbsp; a lovelier name, isn't it?) At any rate,&nbsp; this bunch are particularly tasty. Their typical raspberry flavor has actually spilled over into a cherry flavor. So amazing. And look at the color of their skin! Just gorgeous.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vViiuPHHBkA/T2Fc5mQ8M7I/AAAAAAAABCk/V_LrDasekGA/s1600/meyer-lemon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vViiuPHHBkA/T2Fc5mQ8M7I/AAAAAAAABCk/V_LrDasekGA/s400/meyer-lemon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And here's the pile of Meyer lemons I got this week, too. Did you know Meyer lemons are a cross between a Mandarin orange and Eureka lemon? That's why their skins are thinner and the flesh a bit sweeter.<br /><br />All I can say is yum. Now I have to figure out what to do with all of this gorgeous citrus! I was thinking of a orange marmalade (can you imagine the color!?) and some more preserved lemons. Any other suggestions or ideas?sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-89472920067975626162012-03-03T12:45:00.001-05:002012-03-03T12:45:46.871-05:00New Curtains for the Bedroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGpVz1gCHHQ/T1JWkJI0WuI/AAAAAAAAA78/0my1dHRu4lk/s1600/curtains_pinspired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGpVz1gCHHQ/T1JWkJI0WuI/AAAAAAAAA78/0my1dHRu4lk/s400/curtains_pinspired.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />I made these curtains a few weeks ago for the sliding glass doors in my bedroom that lead out to the pool. I was going to make them for the bay windows as well, but then I had the thought that it might make the room feel too much like a funeral parlor.<br /><br />At any rate, I was pinspired by this:<br /><br /><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/34973334576096394/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/176414510373022141_MDmW8DLi_c.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://aboyagirlandapug.blogspot.com/2010/04/8-ruffle-curtain-tutorial.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">aboyagirlandapug.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/sostinkinhappy/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">sostinkinhappy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><br />I couldn't be as "free form" as the instructions indicated one could be - I actually measured and used a handy dandy disappearing ink pen to mark the intervals between ruffles.&nbsp; I also used bleached muslin I picked up for a song at a sale a while back instead of a bedsheet. Anyhoooo,&nbsp; I think they turned out rather nicely, don't you? <br /><br />Now if I could just keep the cat from rolling around in the bottom layer of ruffles all would be well. Oh, and if I could magically paint my room without actually picking up a paint brush, that would be awesome, too.<br /><br /><br />sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-86102848701765174582012-02-25T15:54:00.000-05:002012-02-25T15:54:21.267-05:00Fort Walton Beach FL Stake RS ConferenceDear Relief Society Sisters -<br /><br />Here is a copy of the hand out from the class today. Later, I will see about posting all of my notes, and perhaps a few more links to resources for open (free) learning courses.<br /><br />I hope to hear from some of you soon - I would love to help you begin to set up learning plan of your own.<br /><br />Smooches -<br /><br />M.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________________________ </div><br /> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; 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text-indent:-.25in;} @list l1:level2 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; mso-ansi-font-weight:normal;} @list l1:level3 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --></style> <br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The Glory of God is Intelligence</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ft. Walton Beach Stake Relief Society Conference</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">February 25, 2012</span></b></div><div class="highlight" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;"><br /></div><div class="highlight" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;"><br /></div><div class="highlight" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;"><span class="verse"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>“</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Whatever principle of </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130.18-19?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">intelligence</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130.18-19?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">resurrection</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. And if a person gains more </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130.18-19?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">knowledge</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and intelligence in this life through his </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/130.18-19?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">diligence</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(D &amp; C 130: 18-19)</span></div><div class="highlight" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="featurestext"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">"You belong to a church that teaches the importance of education. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands. . . .</i> There can be no doubt, none whatever, that education pays. Do not short-circuit your lives. If you do so, you will pay for it over and over and over again."</span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> <span class="featurestext">—Gordon B. Hinckley, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ensign</i>, Jan. 2001.</span></span><span class="featurestext"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></span></div><div class="highlight" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="featurestext"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">"Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. . . . <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves</i>."</span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> <span class="featurestext">—Russell M. Nelson, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ensign</i>, Nov. 1992, emphasis added</span></span></div><div class="highlight" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Seven Secrets I Learned on the Way To A PhD</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">It’s About Fire Building, not Just Bucket Filling</span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“The glory of god is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one.” (D&amp;C 96: 36-37)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Unlearning leads to Real Learning </span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly.” - Arnold Edinborough</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Lifelong learning is Exactly That: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lifelong</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="featurestext"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></span><span class="featurestext"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“I believe in the pursuit of education. What is education? Reduced to its most simplistic definition it is the training of the mind and the body. . . . It is something that need never stop—no matter how old we grow we can acquire knowledge and use it. We can gather wisdom and profit from it.”</span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /><span class="featurestext">—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley</i> (1997), 170 </span></span><span class="featurestext"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Learning is not achieved by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” – Abigail Adams</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">"The day you stop learning is the day you begin decaying." ~ Isaac Asimov</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Get Online and Go Places for Free While in Your Bunny Slippers</span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">OpenCourseWare: </span><a href="http://www.ocwconsortium.org/" style="color: blue;">http://www.ocwconsortium.org/</a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Peer2PeerUniversity: </span><a href="http://p2pu.org/en/" style="color: blue;">http://p2pu.org/en/</a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Hie Thee to the Library, Girl: Books are still your best friend</span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (</span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/88.118?lang=eng#117"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">D&amp;C 88:118</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">.)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“If you don’t read, you have no advantage over those who cannot read”</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">If the library doesn’t have it, use the InterLibraryLoan system (ILL)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Build a family library of classics. Read them with &amp; to your children</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>i.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://www.tjed.org/resources/classics/" style="color: blue;">http://www.tjed.org/resources/classics/</a><span style="color: blue;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>ii.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://www.kidsreads.com/lists/classic-lists.asp">http://www.kidsreads.com/lists/classic-lists.asp</a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>iii.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1997/june97/list.html">http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1997/june97/list.html</a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>iv.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3672376/110-best-books-The-perfect-library.html" style="color: blue;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3672376/110-best-books-The-perfect-library.html</a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">It’s Not About Benjamins and Alphabet Soup (But it is, sort of)</span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“The Lord and His Church have always encouraged education to increase our ability to serve Him and our Heavenly Father’s children. For each of us, whatever our talents, He has service for us to give. And to do it well always involves learning, not once or for a limited time, but continually.” (Henry B. Eyring, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Era, </i>April 2009)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“You need all the education you can get. Sacrifice a car; sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed to qualify yourselves to do the work of the world. That would will in large measure pay you what it thinks you are worth, and your worth will increase as you gain education and proficiency in your chosen field.” (Gordon B. Hinckley<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ensign, </i>Jan 2001)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Explore, But Don’t Wander</span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Spiritual learning comes first, but is clear that putting spiritual learning first does not relieve us from learning secular things. On the contrary, it gives our secular learning purpose and motivates us to work harder at it.” (Henry B. Eyring, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ensign</i>, October 2002). </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“True learning must have a powerful spiritual component. That spiritual element, when it is effective, refines and uplifts the aims of our total education. . . . Remember, you are interested in education, not just for mortal life but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning. In fact, you will work harder at your secular learning than you would without that spiritual vision.” Henry B. Eyring, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Era, </i>April 2009)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Become a Lifelong Learner: You Can Take it With You!</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Or in Other Words, More Good News from the Gospel of Jesus Christ)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">~ B.B. King</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Develop a plan in consultation with the Father</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What makes your heart sing? </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What skills would bless your family, ward, or community the most?</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What resonates with your values and goals? (do you have values and goals? – another class for another day!) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Don’t be afraid of the big learning projects that God might ask you to do. Be Nephi – if you don’t know where to begin, ask to be led to the ore so you can make the tools you need to build the boat. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Write it down – keep a “To Learn” list</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Set aside a dedicated learning time. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Most of us can find 15-30 minutes a day </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Identify community resources and groups</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Face to face vs. Online</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Formal education vs. Self-directed</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Groups, guilds, and clubs</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Find a mentor, guide, or coach: Most people who are true experts LOVE sharing their knowledge with others. L.O.V.E. it. Don’t be afraid to ask! </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Read about it, write about it, DO IT, share it. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Rinse and repeat</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-64710208409496802722012-02-21T17:45:00.000-05:002012-02-21T19:53:21.989-05:00Another Pinspired Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dIC0uZoMUA/T0P6_BUTanI/AAAAAAAAA7U/lOiXDHgLLm8/s1600/puffy_alpha_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dIC0uZoMUA/T0P6_BUTanI/AAAAAAAAA7U/lOiXDHgLLm8/s400/puffy_alpha_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />No earth shattering news here, just a project I worked on this morning. I made a bunch of puffy alphabet letters for Princess P.'s birthday in a few months. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtBslIXCKRg/T0P67nYcwUI/AAAAAAAAA7M/vFuerdmWaPc/s1600/puffy_alpha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtBslIXCKRg/T0P67nYcwUI/AAAAAAAAA7M/vFuerdmWaPc/s400/puffy_alpha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I used fabric from a charm pack of Moda's "Ruby" collection, which I simply adore beyond words. This is one of those fabric collections I would like to take out a small loan and buy five gazillion yards of it all. (I also used other fabrics from my scrap bag to make the letters A, I, M, Q, W, and Z.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zx7a498OXjU/T0QZFliI_vI/AAAAAAAAA7c/t-SnWDBQqa8/s1600/ruby-bonnie--camille-moda-entire-collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zx7a498OXjU/T0QZFliI_vI/AAAAAAAAA7c/t-SnWDBQqa8/s320/ruby-bonnie--camille-moda-entire-collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />To make the letters, I used "American Typewriter" in bold face, 475 pt font. And since I am <strike>too lazy </strike><strike>too cheap</strike> <strike>so crafty</strike> so lazy, I didn't bother printing the letters out, cutting them, then tracing them onto the fabric. I simply used a bit of ingenuity to hold them in place on my computer monitor so I could trace them directly on the fabric using a disappearing ink pen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oucA7f6X2rI/T0QZToKcxjI/AAAAAAAAA7k/7E42u6bpWAk/s1600/puffy_alpha_tutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oucA7f6X2rI/T0QZToKcxjI/AAAAAAAAA7k/7E42u6bpWAk/s320/puffy_alpha_tutorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The light of the monitor helped A LOT on the darker fabrics. Doing it this way saved SO much time.&nbsp; As you can see from the letter K, I wasn't exact in the lines. I figured I was making puffy alphabet letters for a two year old. Precision was not critical to the execution of this project.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E44MESTswQY/T0QaGh-3QSI/AAAAAAAAA7s/3incPZR4gCI/s1600/puffy_alpha_tutorial_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E44MESTswQY/T0QaGh-3QSI/AAAAAAAAA7s/3incPZR4gCI/s320/puffy_alpha_tutorial_1.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />A word about disappearing ink pens: They don't work so well on red fabric. Well, they do, the ink just disappears within 10 minutes or so. It has something to do with the dye molecules or some thing like that. And the ink sticks around longer on lighter colored fabric but will disappear within 48-72 hours depending on the humidity level in your home (see the K above). You can either be patient and wait for it to disappear, or wet it with some plain water to help it along.<br /><br />I love disappearing ink pens. Some day, I would like to shake the hand of the brilliant person who invented them. I wonder if it was a happy accident like sticky notes or saran wrap or the color mauve. <br /><br />But I digress.<br /><br />To assemble the letters, I essentially, I followed the instructions found at this great Pinterest pin:<br /><br /><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/34973334576054770/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="555" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/34973334576054770_jpLG2yoR_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.stitchinginthedark.com/plush-alphabet-for-james/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">stitchinginthedark.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/sostinkinhappy/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">sostinkinhappy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><br />Not sure if I will make the basket - I think Princess P. would prefer a purse. Now I just have to find a cute pattern. Any suggestions?<br /><br />M.sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-18720226954773894622012-01-27T14:01:00.000-05:002012-01-27T14:01:19.913-05:00Pinspired: A Valentine's Day Wreath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nyhT1-2pAaA/TyLzq67KDiI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/X3pfNbw5VC4/s1600/vdaywreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nyhT1-2pAaA/TyLzq67KDiI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/X3pfNbw5VC4/s640/vdaywreath.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br />I made this the other day. Wrapping all that yarn was both therapeutic and mind-numbing, all at the same time. Perhaps it was therapeutic because it was mind-numbing, now that I think about it.<br /><br />At any rate, The Professor is thrilled with how it turned out and after all, I made it for him. His is the only opinion that really matters.<br /><br />Here is the picture from Pinterest that inspired this latest spate of craftiness:<br /><br /><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/34973334576082594/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/81557443221638948_8aJlY3s4_c.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/01/valentines-decor-ideas-ra-104/#more-16360" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">remodelaholic.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/sostinkinhappy/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">sostinkinhappy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><br />Happy crafting, y'all! (I can officially say that now because I live in "Lower Alabama.")<br /><br />Much love,<br /><br />M.sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-46515554766186359052012-01-01T19:21:00.005-05:002012-01-01T19:21:45.348-05:00My 2012 Resolutions<br /><ol><li>I resolve to laugh more, worry less. </li><li>I resolve to love more, resent less.&nbsp;</li><li>I resolve to listen more, talk less. </li><li>I resolve to trust more, control less.</li><li>I resolve to pray more, stress less. </li><li>I resolve to save more, consume less.</li><li>I resolve to teach more, dictate less. </li><li>I resolve to move more, sit less.</li><li>I resolve to read more, surf less.&nbsp; &nbsp; </li><li>I resolve to be thankful more, grumble less.</li></ol>What are your 2012 New Year's Resolutions?sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-2688651319617598212011-10-26T21:13:00.000-04:002011-10-27T12:15:42.206-04:00Halloween..er...trunk or treatToday was the ward <strike>Halloween Party</strike> Trunk-or-Treat Party. There were about 5,875 more people there than I was expecting, but that's OK, because I wasn't in charge.&nbsp; The Professor thought it was awesome that so many people were getting together to celebrate my birthday (which was today). I had to remind him the party wasn't for me, but it sure was a nice way to spend the evening of my birthday. And it was. <br /><br />Here's the Professor's costume for the night:&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIfjI5xTJxM/TqmBdCXaAjI/AAAAAAAAAxU/hDXLx0AoHto/s1600/luke_balloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIfjI5xTJxM/TqmBdCXaAjI/AAAAAAAAAxU/hDXLx0AoHto/s640/luke_balloon.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br />And here is Sweet P. (sans her adorable hat, which Mommy left at home somewhere between the place where it was hanging and the car.)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXf5Py0-gTI/TqmBdzszWNI/AAAAAAAAAxc/4m0i9VQzAEE/s1600/penelope_chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXf5Py0-gTI/TqmBdzszWNI/AAAAAAAAAxc/4m0i9VQzAEE/s640/penelope_chicken.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br />Here's a picture of her costume hanging up.&nbsp; Hopefully I can get pictures of her in the whole thing on Halloween.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7CZfgN7I44/TqmCuU19wtI/AAAAAAAAAxk/BjMimgH6wtI/s1600/penelope_costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7CZfgN7I44/TqmCuU19wtI/AAAAAAAAAxk/BjMimgH6wtI/s640/penelope_costume.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><br /><br />Captain Knuckle decided not to dress up this year and spent the evening scaring the little kids with his hand-in-the-candy-bowl trick instead. He cut a hole in the bottom of the bowl and then inserted his hand from the bottom. He covered his hand with candy and when the kids came by to get some, he told them to get a piece - then he grabbed them with his hand! It was quality entertainment.<br /><br /><br />sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-66725630923989808662011-10-19T16:28:00.000-04:002011-10-19T16:28:56.212-04:00What I Did TodayToday, I did nothing even remotely responsible.<br /><br />I have not read one book.<br /><br />I have not written one sentence (well, other than these).<br /><br />I have not cleaned one thing.<br /><br />Instead, I was <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_116875969">inspired by this</a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/275928446/"> lampshade I found at Pinterest</a> (via <a href="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2011/02/scrappy-lampshade-tutorial-and-long-story/">The Pleated Poppy</a>)...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMhzZE-bfOY/Tp8xnfdcoRI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/axovAZvrS_s/s1600/pleated+poppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMhzZE-bfOY/Tp8xnfdcoRI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/axovAZvrS_s/s320/pleated+poppy.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />...and then I did this: <br /> <br />I bought an old lamp shade for $1.50 at the <a href="http://www.waterfrontmission.org/fort-walton-beach-florida">Waterfront Rescue Mission Thrift Store</a> (arguably the best thrift store in the area).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7U_7yim80sc/Tp8vSbIwVZI/AAAAAAAAAvg/X1jk4UexmkM/s1600/lampshade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7U_7yim80sc/Tp8vSbIwVZI/AAAAAAAAAvg/X1jk4UexmkM/s320/lampshade.jpg" width="241" /> </a></div><br />I stripped all of the silk off of it (and saved it to make the Professor's scarf for his Halloween costume. He is going as Balloon Boy, or rather, <i>Hot Air</i> Balloon Boy.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0CNJe634PA/Tp8vT0tZo1I/AAAAAAAAAvo/KXVd-7eIaIg/s1600/lampshade_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0CNJe634PA/Tp8vT0tZo1I/AAAAAAAAAvo/KXVd-7eIaIg/s320/lampshade_1.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />Then I raided my quilting and sewing scraps and did this. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pmOcBlJ3vNE/Tp8vWrgswQI/AAAAAAAAAv0/7_wl_BgtGRQ/s1600/lampshade_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pmOcBlJ3vNE/Tp8vWrgswQI/AAAAAAAAAv0/7_wl_BgtGRQ/s320/lampshade_3.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Then I stuck it on a lamp base I had, just because I was dying to see what it would look like with a light behind all the different fabrics. (Don't worry, this isn't the permanent base nor the permanent location for this lamp shade. I think it might go in my office or over the bar area as a pendant lamp - I haven't decided where as of yet.) </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-x0yw8ReDk/Tp8vaK-1QkI/AAAAAAAAAwI/0ETpEQMPI3Y/s1600/lampshade_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-x0yw8ReDk/Tp8vaK-1QkI/AAAAAAAAAwI/0ETpEQMPI3Y/s320/lampshade_5.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />I used a lot more scraps than the inspiration project, but it suits me just fine.&nbsp; Looking at it now, I also think it needs some lamp-jewelry around the bottom. I will have to see what I have in my stash. But seriously, look at how happy those fabrics are when they are all lit up by the light!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WCYBbNXNNwI/Tp8vX2bkmQI/AAAAAAAAAwA/v0R3E-tlWmE/s1600/lampshade_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WCYBbNXNNwI/Tp8vX2bkmQI/AAAAAAAAAwA/v0R3E-tlWmE/s320/lampshade_4.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />All in all, it was a nice way to spend the afternoon while Princess P. napped. But now I have to clean up, arguably my least favorite part of being irresponsible for the day. <br /><br />sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-81493500921429700592011-10-18T15:22:00.003-04:002011-10-18T21:41:53.775-04:00Pumpkin Cookies (Grain Free)Thank you, Sarah over at <a href="http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/2011/10/pumpkin-cookies-grain-free/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheHealthyHomeEconomist+%28The+Healthy+Home+Economist%29">The Healthy Home Economist</a>! These cookies are amazing and are certainly going to be a hit with the family (if there are any left by the time they get home!)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iApxqBpsiIk/Tp3TTAoBAcI/AAAAAAAAAso/bMltGFA4RGc/s1600/pumpkin_cookies_no_grain_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iApxqBpsiIk/Tp3TTAoBAcI/AAAAAAAAAso/bMltGFA4RGc/s400/pumpkin_cookies_no_grain_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />And yes, they taste as scrumptious as the recipe sounds.&nbsp; (I actually added about another cup of almond flour to give them a bit more body.) YUM!<br /><br />I am already thinking of really great ways to use this cookie recipe for fall desserts around The Happy House. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-2333278264826090082011-09-24T14:47:00.001-04:002011-09-24T14:47:42.801-04:00While wasting time on Pinterest<br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/223695258/" target="_blank"><img 507'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/223695258_6j4GHWwE_c.jpg" width="400 height =" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=11272310" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">None</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/tiabrew/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Tia</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><br />I came across this gem. I sure hope when the Professor gets older, my husband does this exact same thing.<br /><br />(Have I mentioned I married into a family of Star Wars geeks and my son seems to have inherited the geek gene?)sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-46074830912105637982011-09-11T11:34:00.000-04:002011-09-11T11:36:11.759-04:00Lest We Forget<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RqlQ2XOobJo/SqpU3NXzGaI/AAAAAAAAAG4/PczDxwfBW_U/s1600-h/ny_20.1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="332" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380206012306495906" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RqlQ2XOobJo/SqpU3NXzGaI/AAAAAAAAAG4/PczDxwfBW_U/s640/ny_20.1.jpg" style="display: block; height: 208px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will not surrender; I will not submit. </div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-68008278161085046192011-08-30T15:03:00.000-04:002011-08-30T15:03:27.766-04:00A Letter to My HairDear Hair:<br /><br />I give up. You win.<br /><br />I can no longer fight against what is and what has always been, particularly in the face of all this humidity.<br /><br />You are curly. I could sort of pretend you weren't when I lived in drier climes, but here in the Gulf Coast? Not so much.<br /><br />Every day since I moved here you have screamed at me, "Give it up, girl! Put down the flat iron and round brush and just walk away."<br /><br />So today, you win.&nbsp; Instead of trying to slick back the curly escapees and pin down the naughty waves, you can have at it.<br /><br />Much love,<br /><br />M. sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-69396082336613825512011-08-26T19:00:00.000-04:002018-08-11T09:39:12.161-04:00Old Endings and New Beginnings ~ Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yvMZCjDVz8/TlfTcWx8MLI/AAAAAAAAArM/1b_yVlkQQAQ/s1600/carolyn_headstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yvMZCjDVz8/TlfTcWx8MLI/AAAAAAAAArM/1b_yVlkQQAQ/s400/carolyn_headstone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />On a crystalline blue, blistering hot Saturday summer evening 22 years ago, my older sister was killed in an alcohol related car accident on I-15. She was on her way to <a href="http://www.lagoonpark.com/">Lagoon</a> with some friends when the very young and very inexperienced driver came up on some traffic that had slowed down because of construction.<br /><br />Go figure. Construction on I-15 in the summer time? <i>Some things never change</i>. <br /><br />The young driver was only going about 55 MPH, but like the others in the car, she had been sipping rum &amp; Coke. She slammed on her brakes, started to skid and spin, then over-corrected. In the process, the car hit a guardrail, which launched the vehicle into the air and into the oncoming southbound traffic. After rolling several times while airborne, the car hit the hood of an oncoming semi, launched over the top, and then became lodged under the back wheels of the rig. <br /><br />At some point, Carolyn was ejected through the windshield of the car, even though she had been sitting in the back seat, without a seat belt of course. Seat belts would not have helped much in this case. In fact, if the girls had been wearing seat belts, all four of them most likely would have died. As it is, two of them died - my sister and the driver - and two others who were ejected before the car hit the semi survived - barely.<br /><br />Thinking back on this, a wry smile steals across my face. <i>No,</i> not about the death and dying part, but the part about where she was sitting when the accident happened.<br /><br />If Carolyn was ever in the back seat, she always wiggled her way into the middle and leaned forward onto the front seats so she could talk to whomever was up front. Not safe nor smart, but that's just how she was, always wanting to talk, to be engaged in life and whatever was happening up front. The back seat and back of the line was never good enough for her. She was determined to not miss a single moment of life. I can only imagine she was smiling and laughing with that infectious laugh of hers when she was launched into eternity, eagerly leaning forward between the front seats. <br /><br />Even though she was killed at about 5:00 p.m. that evening, we didn't find out about the accident until late that evening. <br /><br />She had been carrying fake ID (she was the one who bought the rum) and so the police had a hard time identifying her and locating her next of kin. It didn't help that her body...well, let's just say there was no visual ID made. They only asked for identifying marks below the shoulders to ID her.<br /><br />Within a few days, we would be having a closed-casket funeral for her, but that morning 22 years ago, none of us knew how different our lives would be within a few short hours. One of my best friends would be gone and my whole world would start to unravel at the seams.<br /><br />But at 11:00 that Saturday morning...<i>that </i>morning all was well when I stopped by <a href="http://www.collegeterraceapts.com/">College Terrace </a>where my sister lived to visit a friend. I saw Carolyn getting into her brown station wagon. I leaned over the balcony as far as I could, waving like a mad woman trying to get her attention (or a devoted younger sister, which is sometimes the same thing) and&nbsp; yelled, "Carolyn, Carolyn, CAROLYN - I love you!" She looked up, flashed a huge grin, threw both arms over her head like an Olympic gymnast and said, "I love you too, Munna!"<br /><br />Looking back, I can remember how she winced in the bright sunlight and was a bit unsteady on her feet. I now know it was because of the alcohol she had been consuming. &nbsp;There were so many things I didn't know about her, but I knew the important things.<br /><br />She was a devoted sister. She would have moved heaven and earth for me. She was fiercely loyal to me.<br /><br /><i>She loved me.</i><br /><br />That's all I needed to know. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>_______________________________________<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have never written about this before and there is so much to say.<br /><br />Much love and belief -<br /><br />M. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-31055459204456166742011-08-26T14:00:00.000-04:002017-08-26T10:13:39.985-04:00Old Endings and New Beginnings <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } </style> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">Neither Carolyn nor I had to work that Saturday.&nbsp; In true sister fashion, when I needed a summer job between my junior and senior year of high school, she helped me land one at the same place she had been working for the past year, <a href="http://www.sharpephotos.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Sharpe Photography in Provo UT</span></a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our hours were blessedly normal especially for a high school girl like myself, eight to five Monday through Friday with an hour off for lunch. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Friday before the accident, we had gone to Arby’s for lunch, the two of us in her car with no air conditioning. We pulled up to the drive-thru to order while Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldiers” blared on the radio and the heat of late August radiated through the floorboards. I don’t remember what exactly we ordered, but I remember we both got turnovers. She got apple and I got cherry. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ever since that day, I can’t eat one of those without thinking of her, belting out Bob at the top of her lungs as we cruised along University Avenue, “If you know your history, then you would know where you are coming from, Then you wouldn’t have to ask me, Who the ‘eck do I think I am.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We went inside the studio to eat lunch and talk. It started out as just sister talk and banter about boys and college starting the next Monday, nothing out of the ordinary.&nbsp; For some reason towards the end of the turnover, she grew serious and rather still. This was terribly unlike her – she was always moving, like a flashing sliver of light.&nbsp; I think this is why her next question made such an impression on me.&nbsp; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Munna, do you think it is weird that Mom has twelve kids and not one of us has ever had a major injury or illness? I mean, no one has even broken a bone yet!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I told her I thought it was actually kind of cool and then she asked, “So who do you think will be the first of us to die? I am pretty sure it will be me and when I die, I want Stairway to Heaven (by Led Zeppelin) played at my funeral.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We laughed and went back to work. &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">She came up front at about 4:30 to tell me she was headed out a bit early to go camping with some friends and that she would see me on Monday. &nbsp;She left, trailing more Bob behind her as she exited the front door, letting it slam behind her, “<i>Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival</i>.”&nbsp; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That pretty much sums her up, now that I think about it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">Looking up from the paperwork in front of me, I watched her walk in front of the long plate glass windows at the front of the reception area, her blond hair swinging and flashing in the summer sun as she sang to the passing cars.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">She turned the corner and then she was gone.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-68021911283810432242011-08-22T07:55:00.001-04:002011-08-22T14:58:02.117-04:00Opening Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVMW45UAWww/TlJDOIq1bWI/AAAAAAAAAqk/UvNB8euAwvY/s1600/msfittsschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVMW45UAWww/TlJDOIq1bWI/AAAAAAAAAqk/UvNB8euAwvY/s400/msfittsschool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />I can't believe I am actually doing this.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>Really</b></span>.&nbsp; Am I am crazy, or what?<br /><br />Wait...don't answer that question. I am not sure I want to know the answer!!!<br /><br />Today, the Professor and I set off on a new adventure - home school.<br /><br />First, let me be honest and say how much I hate the term "home school." It conjures up images of strange, backward children who can't put three sentences together in an intelligent manner to anyone NOT in their immediate family, girls who wear dresses made of calico print fabric their mom picked up for $1 a yard at Goodwill, and whole wheat <i>everything</i>. <br /><br />Any of you know me at all realize I am so not that type of mother.<br /><br />Sure, I wear skirts almost every day of my life, not because I think God told me to but because I find them ridiculously comfortable (and definitely NOT made of calico). Sure, I make whole wheat stuff quite frequently, but I also make a lot of stuff with good old fashioned unbleached Gold Medal flour as well. But me, a home schooler?<br /><br />Not in a million years.<br /><br />I much prefer the term "home educator" and that we are "home educating" the Professor.<br /><br />Maybe it is because I have know to much about the school systems here in the U.S. that I really don't want to "school" my wee ones because it smacks too much of...well, the school system.&nbsp; Our schools are currently set up to teach people how to follow orders, respond to the bell, and then move along little darling, move along. This is fantastic if you are hoping to produce workers who follow orders, respond to the bell, and then move along on their merry way.<br /><br />However, if you want something more for your child, you are outta luck. The vast majority of our current schools are not set up to teach children how to love learning, how to think like an entrepreneur, and how to be responsible for their own lifelong education. &nbsp; <br /><br />For parents who want more of love of learning and less order following, what choice to we have but to step outside the system and provide this for our children on our own? (That is, unless we are fortunate enough to live somewhere with a thriving charter school that subscribes to our educational philosophy). <br /><br />Which brings me to my second "let me be honest" moment: Did I mention I just spent the last five years of my life earning a PhD with an emphasis in ADULT education and my dissertation is about GRADUATE education? Did I mention I have ZERO experience teaching at an elementary-aged level? <br /><br />Did I mention I am scared silly to home educate my son?<br /><br />I mean, what if I break something? What if I don't do it right?&nbsp; Which leads me to my third and final "let me be honest" moment which is my biggest fear of all: What if this grand experiment simply proves I will never be a good enough mother and my children will be irreparably harmed <i>simply because I am their mother?&nbsp; </i><br /><br />I know, I know, <b><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace;">I know</span></b>.&nbsp; I should let it go after all these years and most of the time, I do a pretty darn good job of putting that crappy thinking in it's place. But still...there are moments, like now, where those old doubts and fears creep out of the closet.<br /><br />So if you are reading this, say a little prayer for me (and the Professor!).&nbsp;&nbsp; I could certainly use all the extra help I can get at this point.&nbsp; This home education adventure feels like a huge test of my ability to parent just as much as it is a test of my ability to teach. The teaching part I have down, no worries. It's the other stuff I am worried about.<br /><br />Much love,<br /><br />M. sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-12927813982934955952011-07-26T12:15:00.002-04:002011-08-14T21:33:18.509-04:00I'm a Little Tea Pot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0o-_mjhnew/Ti7mY1jHW7I/AAAAAAAAAqY/MWTcRWQgpqM/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0o-_mjhnew/Ti7mY1jHW7I/AAAAAAAAAqY/MWTcRWQgpqM/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />So my sisters-in-law and I were in town yesterday and oddly enough, found ourselves a thrift store. (Go figure. Us, at a thrift store???)&nbsp; One of them happened across this amazing tea pot, tea cup, and saucer. She just wanted the tea cup for her <a href="http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/2010/08/tea-cup-clock.html">tea cup clock</a> (for $1 who wouldn't want that cup and saucer?!!!). However, when she saw me giggle with delight over the tea pot ($3) and then look longingly towards the tea cup, she generously sacrificed and let me have it. Wasn't that nice of her?<br /><br />So for a grand total of $4, I now own this charming set.&nbsp; I don't drink tea, but they will most certainly be put to good use at the Happy House.&nbsp; I can't wait to figure out what to do with them. Suggestions? Ideas? Recommendations?sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-59907752279889856162011-07-23T00:28:00.001-04:002011-07-23T00:30:14.373-04:00Make New Friends, But Keep the Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UcX1_Vskoc/TipBBPx8FHI/AAAAAAAAApg/MX1PunFoXuk/s1600/cooksbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UcX1_Vskoc/TipBBPx8FHI/AAAAAAAAApg/MX1PunFoXuk/s400/cooksbooks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />I was at a thrift store with my sisters-in-law who are here visiting. Imagine that - us, at a thrift store? Crazy talk people, crazy talk! (Not really that crazy, actually. If there is one phrase that defines my sisters-in-law it is <i>thrift store junkies</i>. They always find <u>the most</u> amazing stuff at thrift stores.&nbsp; Can you say <i>hello!</i> GAP pants for $5 that look like they have never been worn and fit like a dream?&nbsp; Wherever they go, they find a thrift store to visit. If I am with them, I get to tag along for the fun.)<br /><br />At any rate, there we were in a thrift store.<br /><br />And I happened upon these beauties in the book section. Eleven of the twelve Woman's Day <i>Encyclopedia of Cookery </i>cookbooks.&nbsp; I nearly wept for joy at seeing these for SO CHEAP at the thrift store. While some of them have some yellowing, overall, they are in <i>excellent</i> condition.<br /><br />Unlike the ones I grew up with.<br /><br />I read, used, and loved the set my mother owned until the spines were broken and the covers were falling off the stained and sticky pages. These cookbooks define my growing up years in the kitchen and I have longed for a set of my own.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4S-qQOBMZo/TipBQ-eW0YI/AAAAAAAAApk/3jq4K-yUso8/s1600/cooksbooks_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4S-qQOBMZo/TipBQ-eW0YI/AAAAAAAAApk/3jq4K-yUso8/s400/cooksbooks_1.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />Man, I loved these cookbooks. I mean L-O-V-E-D them. The reason? They were part cookbook, part textbook, and part dictionary. What <i>isn't</i> to love about them???? Finding them in tucked in among the other books at the thrift store was like stumbling upon an old friend. I know it sounds sappy, but I almost started crying I was so thrilled to see them there and to find them is such great shape.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Eq9iblHKgA/TipCpbUhaPI/AAAAAAAAAqE/M4IF1KNJyUk/s1600/cooksbooks_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Eq9iblHKgA/TipCpbUhaPI/AAAAAAAAAqE/M4IF1KNJyUk/s400/cooksbooks_12.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I remember reading this section when I was young and realizing that an aspic (even if it was "crystal-clear" and "shimmering" was just Jell-O with vegetables or meat bits in it. I thought it strange then and I still do, all these years later.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--JpND8lbW3s/TipBi2kZLEI/AAAAAAAAAps/lmW5GflCFHo/s1600/cooksbooks_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--JpND8lbW3s/TipBi2kZLEI/AAAAAAAAAps/lmW5GflCFHo/s400/cooksbooks_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See what I mean? This illustration of aspics looks an awful like Jell-O, doesn't it?&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OyIGFMm5JIU/TipBZrIi1dI/AAAAAAAAApo/uwUF-UEfB6g/s1600/cooksbooks_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OyIGFMm5JIU/TipBZrIi1dI/AAAAAAAAApo/uwUF-UEfB6g/s400/cooksbooks_13.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a fine example of the textbook aspects of the cookbooks. I remember lounging about on long summer days, reading from these textbooks and dreaming of the things I would someday create from the recipes and the exotic places I would travel to get ingredients. From these <strike>textbooks</strike> cookbooks I learned far more things that a young girl in Orem, Utah should have ever known about cuisines and cooking techniques of the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tv5yfLkPI2U/TipCNgYatMI/AAAAAAAAAp8/hxLwN_GqVwc/s1600/cooksbooks_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tv5yfLkPI2U/TipCNgYatMI/AAAAAAAAAp8/hxLwN_GqVwc/s400/cooksbooks_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the pictures - oh man, the pictures!!! I still love them as much now as I did back then, though perhaps for different reasons.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gSE_EK2A5tQ/TipB4MbKQOI/AAAAAAAAAp0/ZpywIbOHE5w/s1600/cooksbooks_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gSE_EK2A5tQ/TipB4MbKQOI/AAAAAAAAAp0/ZpywIbOHE5w/s400/cooksbooks_16.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bacon. According to my Samoan brother-in-law, everything tastes better with bacon.&nbsp; I just adore the vibrant, vintage-y colors of the photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wfyu8xQf6w/TipBskZQQKI/AAAAAAAAApw/Je-RhEC_f5I/s1600/cooksbooks_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wfyu8xQf6w/TipBskZQQKI/AAAAAAAAApw/Je-RhEC_f5I/s400/cooksbooks_15.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the illustrations - look at this wonderful illustration! I bet your cookbooks don't have illustrations of dancing people in it (unless you own these cookbooks).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jc7PkdfdmEc/TipCbK6WReI/AAAAAAAAAqA/be4y5ibMykk/s1600/cooksbooks_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jc7PkdfdmEc/TipCbK6WReI/AAAAAAAAAqA/be4y5ibMykk/s400/cooksbooks_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And how about this illustration of a banquet? Dated but utterly charming and hilarious all at the same time.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPK24HffSPs/TipCA29-9uI/AAAAAAAAAp4/ujs5UkmHO3o/s1600/cooksbooks_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPK24HffSPs/TipCA29-9uI/AAAAAAAAAp4/ujs5UkmHO3o/s400/cooksbooks_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>But the thing I love most about these cookbooks are the recipes found in them, recipes that define my childhood years.<br /><br />Like this banana-nut bread recipe. (Pecans please, never walnuts. While you are at it, throw in some chocolate chips, too, thankyouverymuch. Call me when it gets out of the oven and I will be right over with an ice-cold milk chaser.)<br /><br />I love this recipe. I mean I really, really, REALLY love this recipe. Primarily because it makes consistently fabulous banana-nut bread but also because it reminds me of being young and in my mother's kitchen.&nbsp; There was a fair amount of hope in the messes I made, and excitement for where life would take me. Things have certainly turned out far different than I could have ever imagined but the recipes I learned from these books have remained constant and true.<br /><br />Like all friends of the oldest and best sort should be.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-23101338267299085072011-07-11T21:41:00.001-04:002011-07-12T10:22:35.637-04:00Happy Birthday, Mr. Amazing Man!Dear. Mr. Amazing Man -<br /><br />Happystinkinbirfday! I am so glad I am your wife and that I get to be a part of your amazing life.&nbsp; I am also very glad you don't mind birthday brownies instead of birthday cake. As you know, we have been living in temporary quarters now for nearly two weeks and this is all I could muster. Pathetic, I know, but I will make it up to you when we get down to Florida and I have access to my cake decorating stuff again.&nbsp; I promise. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0XycH4WSyME/ThxREy78koI/AAAAAAAAAo8/LsZMMjo8cr4/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0XycH4WSyME/ThxREy78koI/AAAAAAAAAo8/LsZMMjo8cr4/s400/DSC_0058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>"Luuuuuuuuke. I am your faaaaaaaaahhhther." (Please note the choice of the Lego Star Wars t-shirt for your birthday). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISwpo52C-Ac/ThxTYJnuoxI/AAAAAAAAApA/Yvh3EHcYejU/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISwpo52C-Ac/ThxTYJnuoxI/AAAAAAAAApA/Yvh3EHcYejU/s400/DSC_0051.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />Even Princess P. got in on the birthday action. She had a great time coloring on your card. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SOY2HAdoVk/ThxUJ45mvxI/AAAAAAAAApI/UlV5vmU47qg/s1600/pennyscard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SOY2HAdoVk/ThxUJ45mvxI/AAAAAAAAApI/UlV5vmU47qg/s400/pennyscard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />She had a great time eating the crayons, too. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7d80WnFVGwk/ThxUABnyLcI/AAAAAAAAApE/ANjRGi20psc/s1600/pennycrayon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7d80WnFVGwk/ThxUABnyLcI/AAAAAAAAApE/ANjRGi20psc/s400/pennycrayon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />She did not have such a great time when I took the crayons from her. She was rather ticked off at me, actually. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHj08wkvyAQ/ThxUSTv13-I/AAAAAAAAApM/fHriV7tPO-o/s1600/pennyscrying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHj08wkvyAQ/ThxUSTv13-I/AAAAAAAAApM/fHriV7tPO-o/s320/pennyscrying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />She wasn't very happy about the balloon either. Balloons with NO strings = good. Balloons WITH strings = very, very, VERY bad. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcb-aRQHa7U/ThxVUjxN5BI/AAAAAAAAApY/1ekjqMIXPRM/s1600/balloons_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcb-aRQHa7U/ThxVUjxN5BI/AAAAAAAAApY/1ekjqMIXPRM/s400/balloons_2.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I am so thankful we had this last year together and I look forward to many, many, many more. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lc4glmDSBEQ/ThxXoG9lrVI/AAAAAAAAApc/QSFOpBfXhL0/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lc4glmDSBEQ/ThxXoG9lrVI/AAAAAAAAApc/QSFOpBfXhL0/s400/cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Much love,<br /><br />M.sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-71806217538360701562011-07-10T21:31:00.002-04:002011-07-12T09:37:44.621-04:00Confessions of a (Worst-Case Scenario) Contingency Planner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZIXM68obq4/ThpKPlNM1SI/AAAAAAAAAo0/2TVry2k-3_Y/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZIXM68obq4/ThpKPlNM1SI/AAAAAAAAAo0/2TVry2k-3_Y/s640/DSC_0034.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br />My little boy is growing up. I hate it but at the same time, I love it! I love watching him reach every new stage of development. What a kid!<br /><br />Today he lost a tooth. Can you guess which one? The other front tooth next to that gaping hole is very wibbly-wobbly and it shouldn't be long before it comes out as well.<br /><br />A story about the Professor and his teeth: Last Friday, I took him in to see the dentist at 7:30 a.m. Now why was I there at that crazy hour in the morning?<br /><br />Well.....he had been complaining that his back teeth were hurting him for about two weeks. Then about a week ago, he started complaining (imagine that! Him, complain????) about his ear and jaw hurting as well. He would not even let me touch that side of his face without screaming as if I was poking him with a needle. After a few days,&nbsp; I finally coaxed him into letting me take a look in his mouth and saw red, angry gums at the back of his mouth.<br /><br />So when you see red, swollen, angry looking gums what do you think? I <u><i>immediately</i></u> assumed the worst case scenario (imagine that! Me, immediately assume the worse case scenario????). He <u><i>must</i></u> have a really bad cavity back where I can't see it. There <i><u>must be</u></i> an infection all through his tooth and gums and it is eating its way through the bone, making a bee-line for the cranial cavity where it will seep into the subacrachnoid space&nbsp; and then rot his brilliant little brain and then he will die a horrible, feverish death all because I didn't take him to the dentist when he first told me it was hurting. (I am good at worse case scenarios, aren't I?&nbsp; I like to call it "contingency planning." My husband likes to call it, "Woman, You Drive Me Crazy Sometimes." It is one the traits my husband simply *adores* about me! Not really, but I like to pretend it is.) <br /><br />I called the dentist, described what I saw and what the Professor had been telling me. They made an emergency appointment for the next morning. Next morning, we showed up, me fully expecting the dentist to confirm my worst case scenario. Well, maybe not the <i>full</i> end-game, but that he had a cavity that needed to be taken care of.<br /><br />The Professor hopped up in the chair and the very nice dentist (especially considering it was so early in the morning) came in, poked around in the Professor's mouth for a bit, asked him a few questions like, "How old are you, buddy?" and "Does it hurt just on this side or over here too?"<br /><br />After about 30 seconds of peering into his mouth, the dentist said, "Mom, it's nothing to be worried about. He is just getting his 6-year molars. The swelling is just a normal reaction to the new teeth cutting through the gums. His teeth look great, no cavities or any other problems. Just give him some Tylenol to help with the pain."<br /><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I should have known.</b></div><br />The Professor was THE.MOST.MISERABLE.CHILD when he was cutting his teeth as an infant. It took FOR-EV-ER for them to break through and he cried and whined (surprised?) and whimpered and wailed about each one for weeks on end. His gums were a swollen mess of awfulness and he was not afraid to let his parents know how terrible it was for him. It was horrible. I still shudder to think about those long, treacherous days and nights of trying to find something - <i>anything</i> - to comfort him. <br /><br />Why would it be any different with his 6-year molars?<br /><br />P.S. Strangely, the pain being caused by the Professor's 6-year molars was not even part of my "contingency planning."&nbsp; I am so grateful it was just that and not anything related to my worst-case scenario.&nbsp;&nbsp; Give me 6-year molars over cavities and root canals any day of the week!sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-35064448124097191112011-07-09T00:52:00.000-04:002011-07-09T00:52:27.152-04:0030 Days of Truth ~ Day 17<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0_i9J6LkTg/ThfdMMgfogI/AAAAAAAAAow/jEHlzI0YYLE/s1600/book-mormon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0_i9J6LkTg/ThfdMMgfogI/AAAAAAAAAow/jEHlzI0YYLE/s400/book-mormon.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">It changed my life. It can change yours, too. </div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-34722451582518738932011-07-07T08:57:00.001-04:002011-07-09T00:42:46.211-04:0030 Days of Truth ~ Day 16<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUm2FXuO_VA/ThS3aJjsH1I/AAAAAAAAAmo/B2uwby9szY0/s1600/oldmanwinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUm2FXuO_VA/ThS3aJjsH1I/AAAAAAAAAmo/B2uwby9szY0/s640/oldmanwinter.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwpMbUp2IKM/ThS3gymYpvI/AAAAAAAAAms/gafHjRkFgX8/s1600/oldmanwinter_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwpMbUp2IKM/ThS3gymYpvI/AAAAAAAAAms/gafHjRkFgX8/s640/oldmanwinter_1.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor birdies. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuXmkZQVp4c/ThS3qULx2gI/AAAAAAAAAmw/QyxUqUtg38Q/s1600/oldmanwinter_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuXmkZQVp4c/ThS3qULx2gI/AAAAAAAAAmw/QyxUqUtg38Q/s640/oldmanwinter_2.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuSkGQNepUE/ThS3_nkIl8I/AAAAAAAAAm4/ikVh-i_wq-0/s1600/oldmanwinter_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuSkGQNepUE/ThS3_nkIl8I/AAAAAAAAAm4/ikVh-i_wq-0/s400/oldmanwinter_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every year on Christmas Eve, a bagpiper calls us all to services at that lovely little chapel across the commons.&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjuK7VRPOzY/ThS35XvDl5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/BV1g1ywDdQs/s1600/oldmanwinter_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjuK7VRPOzY/ThS35XvDl5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/BV1g1ywDdQs/s640/oldmanwinter_3.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our own lamp post in the woods.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LMhL8J8q2Yk/ThS4OQ3a7LI/AAAAAAAAAm8/fwoyNpCBo7E/s1600/oldmanwinter_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LMhL8J8q2Yk/ThS4OQ3a7LI/AAAAAAAAAm8/fwoyNpCBo7E/s400/oldmanwinter_5.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVM0EjNVdgI/ThS5eS_QXGI/AAAAAAAAAnA/mmVr_jmsjrA/s1600/oldmanwinter_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVM0EjNVdgI/ThS5eS_QXGI/AAAAAAAAAnA/mmVr_jmsjrA/s640/oldmanwinter_6.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyTL-aWk2kE/ThS5nDuXHNI/AAAAAAAAAnE/3n0KF1nc274/s1600/oldmanwinter_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyTL-aWk2kE/ThS5nDuXHNI/AAAAAAAAAnE/3n0KF1nc274/s640/oldmanwinter_7.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this guy awesome? All the right colors AND has polka dots too!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I think you get the idea.<br /><br />I could live without the snow.&nbsp; <br /><br />Sure, once or twice a year right around Christmas time is <i>just fine</i> but the piles and piles and piles of it that stick around until mid-April? No thanks. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-36667652711883479512011-07-06T14:56:00.001-04:002011-07-06T15:46:34.211-04:0030 Days of Truth ~ Day 15<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Day 15: Something or someone&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihMXbCLjFGo/ThSsJLj1YGI/AAAAAAAAAl8/B0SgJfMaTg4/s1600/dark_Chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihMXbCLjFGo/ThSsJLj1YGI/AAAAAAAAAl8/B0SgJfMaTg4/s400/dark_Chocolate.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark chocolate. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />I wasn't always so certain about chocolate. Until I tried to quit it. Now I am quite certain I cannot survive without it. This is the reason I have a year+ supply of high quality organic fair-trade cocoa in my food storage. I am that serious about chocolate. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ql8Eg3lmeXU/ThSs2frGbZI/AAAAAAAAAmE/mjvOSsEuYTg/s1600/caramelapplerolls2_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="367" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ql8Eg3lmeXU/ThSs2frGbZI/AAAAAAAAAmE/mjvOSsEuYTg/s400/caramelapplerolls2_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked goods.&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Mah boy The Professor comes by his love of carbohydrates naturally. I have tried those low carb diets things and let's just say, it is NOT pretty. That doesn't mean I am rolling around in pans of caramel apple cinnamon rolls every day (though that sounds rather nice), but it does mean I have to have some carbs or my brain. stops. functioning.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pvw8lWb1e0/ThSt5uUE-lI/AAAAAAAAAmI/CrTE6L4SDu0/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pvw8lWb1e0/ThSt5uUE-lI/AAAAAAAAAmI/CrTE6L4SDu0/s400/DSC_0075.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I have tried to quit him about a thousand times, but all roads seem to lead back to him.&nbsp; Fortunately for me, he has always been waiting for me to come to my senses and never holds it against me.sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-92074678546716970842011-07-05T14:10:00.000-04:002011-07-05T14:10:54.759-04:00And The Dream Goes On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VpmTTHsWtp4/ThIkrUM661I/AAAAAAAAAl4/cYFDv3sdn3U/s1600/DSC_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VpmTTHsWtp4/ThIkrUM661I/AAAAAAAAAl4/cYFDv3sdn3U/s640/DSC_0229.JPG" width="428" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know it is the 4th of July parade, Independence Day, our beloved country's 235th birthday. <i>I know</i>. But yet, my son wears green.&nbsp; He wears green any chance he can because it is his favorite color and what better day to celebrate independence than letting your 6 year old wear whatever he pleases?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I snapped this photo of The Professor at the Lovettsville town parade and the look on his face...<b><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace;">priceless</span></b>.&nbsp; He saw an old military deuce-and-half headed our way and just about jumped out of his shorts he was so excited. (It might have had something to do with the piles of candy they were pouring over the side).&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He was positively delighted and delightful all evening long, full of exuberance and joy over every little red-white-and-blue tidbit of anything that crossed his path.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><b><i>Giddy.&nbsp;</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He was giddy. There really isn't any other word to describe him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He was giddy about everything that day except the flag cupcake cake thingy someone brought to the BBQ, which was just a step above being worthy of enshrinement at <a href="http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/07/and-so-fourth.html">www.cakewrecks.com.</a> It had 16 stripes. For the 16 original...uh...yeah, those 16 original thingies. And it had something like 57 stars for the 57....uh...states? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The real story isn't about the cupcake wreck though. It's about The Professor's reaction when he saw it. It was announced that people could start eating the cupcakes, and being the carbohydrate addict he is, he made a mad dash and was first in line. When they lifted the lid, he looked at it, backed up while holding his hands up and solemnly declared loud enough for everyone at the BBQ to hear:</div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I can NOT eat that cake! It is the <u>American</u> flag and that would be un-respectful!"</div></blockquote>He then darted back to the field to throw the giant frisbees around with his cousins.<i>&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><i>I sat there stunned and wordless.</i><br /><br />This is my child who knows that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Doughnut_Day">National Doughnut Day</a> exists and incessantly reminds me about it during the lead up to it every.stinkin.year (It's the first Friday in June, in case you were wondering. Stop by your local Dunkin Donuts and get free donut!)&nbsp; This is my son who would eat cake, cookies, and bread for every.stinkin.meal with a side of frosting and a glass of chocolate syrup to wash it all down if I let him.&nbsp; Seriously, The Professor NEVER turns down a baked good.<br /><br />One of the ladies who was there leaned over to me and said, "Did you teach him that or did he come that way?"<br /><br />Uh...he came that way. <br /><br />This little boy is the product of generations of Americans stretching back to the earliest European settlers of Massachusetts and Virginia. He is the descendant of intrepid individuals willing to do difficult and dangerous things in an effort to establish this country. His is a heritage of patriots and warriors stretching back to the Revolution who were willing to sacrifice all they had to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.<br /><br />If they were to examine his blood under a microscope, they would probably find stars and stripes in stead of red blood cells and plasma. Have you ever heard the phrase "he bleeds red, white, and blue"? That's my boy they are talking about. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Yes, he came that way</b></span>. <br /><br />And I am very grateful that he did. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11272310.post-76844423286545508572011-06-29T22:10:00.002-04:002011-06-30T09:10:24.936-04:00The Big Orange Truck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zpo5bc_1dOU/TgvJT5OzEWI/AAAAAAAAAko/yDFQryzkbYI/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zpo5bc_1dOU/TgvJT5OzEWI/AAAAAAAAAko/yDFQryzkbYI/s400/DSC_0013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />A sight I am not too thrilled to see. While I am excited for the sugar-white sand beaches of the Emerald Coast, I am going to miss the 'burg something fierce.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpi4s1q324s/TgvJYdDw5II/AAAAAAAAAks/-uEEVh7NNDE/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpi4s1q324s/TgvJYdDw5II/AAAAAAAAAks/-uEEVh7NNDE/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />The library, all packed up. Yes, I know that technically it is a formal dining room but you don't know me all that well if you think I would actually put a table in there! Books, books, books and more books are far more useful than a formal dining room table. After all, I have a perfectly serviceable dining table in the dining room.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpOHnM-af7Y/TgvJe6074NI/AAAAAAAAAkw/QU0SSj8r5BY/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpOHnM-af7Y/TgvJe6074NI/AAAAAAAAAkw/QU0SSj8r5BY/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />Goodbye, dear office. I spent far too much time in your embrace. And what do I have to show for it? A PhD by golly!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xZ0j69r17A/TgvJtqoE4pI/AAAAAAAAAk0/yg1fTWvjJ1Q/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xZ0j69r17A/TgvJtqoE4pI/AAAAAAAAAk0/yg1fTWvjJ1Q/s400/DSC_0016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I would sit here at my desk, my feet propped up on the low window sill as I clickety-clacked away on the computer. I could see my neighbor Marie's house from my desk. Marie was the most wonderful neighbor in the world. Good times, good times indeed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m22_KnQTu3k/TgvJ0LroNXI/AAAAAAAAAk4/sSEOcKTtwU8/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m22_KnQTu3k/TgvJ0LroNXI/AAAAAAAAAk4/sSEOcKTtwU8/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The living room is an official disaster area. I am going to miss those big windows that were perfect for watching the deer creep out of the forest&nbsp; in the evenings and the blue buntings, American goldfinches, cardinals, chickadees, sparrows, woodpeckers, and sundry other bird that frequented our inadvertent hawk feeders (AKA the bird feeders). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HumxAkem1Nc/TgvJ51Aw6uI/AAAAAAAAAk8/mRP9OJBy4Qk/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HumxAkem1Nc/TgvJ51Aw6uI/AAAAAAAAAk8/mRP9OJBy4Qk/s400/DSC_0018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />My feelings about this kitchen: <i>meh</i>. To small for more than one person to work in. Electric range.&nbsp; Gold hardware. Had to store my appliances in the laundry room.&nbsp; <i>Horrible</i> linoleum flooring. Fluorescent lighting.&nbsp; Should I go on?<br /><br />The kitchen at the new place is going to be a dream compared to this. Granite counter tops. Convection oven. HUGE refrigerator. Six-burner gas range with a grill insert. Island. Lots and lots and lots of cupboard space. More than enough room for my vintage cookbook collection.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnolUd1mcfw/TgvKFK5bOqI/AAAAAAAAAlA/oJRUbwaQvyQ/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnolUd1mcfw/TgvKFK5bOqI/AAAAAAAAAlA/oJRUbwaQvyQ/s400/DSC_0019.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br /><br />My empty china cupboard. It usually houses the china from my original parents' marriage. I am conflicted about it.&nbsp; Sometimes I love it but sometimes<i>...meh.</i> It's <a href="http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/china/N/noritake_misty_dinner_plate_P0000067390S0001T2.jpg">Nortake "Misty"</a> pattern and has 14 5-piece place settings with fruit/dessert bowls, gravy boats, serving platters and bowls, hostess set, salt and pepper shakers, creamer and sugar bowl - everything a person could want in a full china set. I keep hauling it around the country and every time I pare down my stuff I can't get rid of it. I guess it must have some meaning in my life. (Note the perfectly serviceable dining room table in that picture). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ikE29GHXvU/TgvKRyA7aQI/AAAAAAAAAlI/MCcLa2yivW8/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ikE29GHXvU/TgvKRyA7aQI/AAAAAAAAAlI/MCcLa2yivW8/s400/DSC_0021.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Uh...where did all of that stuff come from? Not quite sure how I had all of that stuff stashed in the boy's room.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kszp2ojvpJ4/TgvKlq9DwbI/AAAAAAAAAlM/k2FvwIt8X1o/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kszp2ojvpJ4/TgvKlq9DwbI/AAAAAAAAAlM/k2FvwIt8X1o/s400/DSC_0022.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Manda's old room/plane room/guest room/room where I stash my yarn. (P.S. That bed there on the left? Sooooooooooo comfortable and one of the single best deals I have ever scored. It was a window display bed at a furniture store in Logan. Since it was up in the window always covered by new bedding, they forgot to actually sell it until the manufacturer quit making that style something like three years later. Enter moi!!! I was the first one to come across it after they realized their mistake and I took it home for a FRACTION of retail...it was a savings of $3100. <i>Nice.</i>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OXk3SrIRYhU/TgvKwbl6gCI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Ewo7YwPw6Aw/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OXk3SrIRYhU/TgvKwbl6gCI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Ewo7YwPw6Aw/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Food Room. It took three men nearly the entire day to pack this one up. Sorry guys.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aloap6qGth0/TgvLF9fQmUI/AAAAAAAAAlg/-Lkkj6iDyhs/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aloap6qGth0/TgvLF9fQmUI/AAAAAAAAAlg/-Lkkj6iDyhs/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good bye closet! I shall not miss your narrow ways. That being said, do you realize you are larger than the kitchen at my last place?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBbputoWF8s/TgvLTTWS0dI/AAAAAAAAAlk/uhYWUeaHjpM/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBbputoWF8s/TgvLTTWS0dI/AAAAAAAAAlk/uhYWUeaHjpM/s400/DSC_0029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes. More bookshelves means more books. Me + books = Happiness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wBfoabOu5o/TgvLYdx7ZxI/AAAAAAAAAlo/8PtVa-lIsZI/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wBfoabOu5o/TgvLYdx7ZxI/AAAAAAAAAlo/8PtVa-lIsZI/s320/DSC_0030.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Can I say how thankful I am not the one packing all of these boxes?&nbsp; I know we could have done it ourselves and saved some serious $$ but I am so over packing up my own junk and moving it. I think the husband is just as over loading and unloading trucks full of my junk.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>sostinkinhappyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232348686080229324noreply@blogger.com5